Woe to the rebellious children, says the LORD, who take counsel but not from Me, and who make a league but not of My spirit, that they may add sin to sin, establishing a woe oracle against Judah's political leadership for seeking political alliances (likely with Egypt) rather than trusting in God's guidance and covenantal purposes. The designation as rebellious children suggests infidelity and disobedience to the divine covenant. The taking of counsel apart from God and the making of leagues without God's spirit represent a fundamental alienation from covenant relationship and a substitution of human political strategy for reliance on God. The additive nature of sin—adding sin to sin—suggests that the people compound their initial failure by continued rebellion. This oracle introduces the section's critique of Judah's foreign policy and its rejection of the prophetic word.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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